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Feb. 7, 2014 Editorial: We applaud CVS

CVS -- the second-largest drug store chain in America -- recently announced it will no longer sell tobacco products after Oct. 1. We applaud this bold decision by a retailer who stands to lose $2 billion annually in sales as a result.

With nearly 8,000 stores, CVS wants to become known as a health care provider, not one that promotes unhealthy behavior.

The timing of its announcement comes on the heels of the World Health Organization's cancer report that predicts new cancer cases will rise from 14 million to 22 million in just two decades.

The report also said about half of all cancers are preventable by addressing lifestyle factors like smoking, diet and exercise.

We encourage other retailers to follow CVS' example. Imagine how many thousands of people might never start smoking or those who might quit because their access is limited. More importantly, imagine how much healthier millions of people could be.

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